Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi, NCR

The apex court also asked the government to suspend the licenses of existing sellers and not issue any fresh licenses.

The apex court also ruled that no fresh licenses to sell firecrackers would be issued anymore. Earlier, traders could sell firecrackers if they had the license to do so.Reuters file

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that the sale of firecrackers be banned in Delhi and NCR region due to the growing levels of pollution in the capital. The court also asked the government to suspend the licenses of sellers.

The apex court ruled that no fresh licenses to sell firecrackers would be issued anymore. Earlier, traders could sell firecrackers if they had the license to do so.

The court has also asked the Central Pollution Control Board to submit to them within three months a report on the harmful effects of firecrackers. It has been hearing petitions against the sale of firecrackers in the capital for some time.

Pollution levels in Delhi and NCR rose to dangerous levels following the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali. Environmental activists had also requested the apex court to intervene in the matter and ban the sale of firecrackers in the capital.